Pathophysiology and mechanisms of acute ischemic stroke. The NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study Group.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability among Americans. The recent US Food and Drug Administration approval of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA, Activase) for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke offers the first proven therapy to reverse or ameliorate stroke symptoms. rt-PA is thought to restore circulation in the patient with acute ischemic stroke by dissolving an occluding thrombus or embolus. A basic understanding of cerebral circulation and the mechanism by which stroke compromises brain tissue is fundamental to appreciating this new therapy. The importance of prompt stroke diagnosis and treatment cannot be underestimated.
Bratina
P
P
University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Neurology, Houston 77030, USA.
Rapp
K
K
Barch
C
C
Kongable
G
G
Donnarumma
R
R
Spilker
J
J
Daley
S
S
Braimah
J
J
Sailor
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator